Oggi Alessandro Altobelli compie 70 anni. Settant’anni di gol, di corse a braccia alzate, di sorriso pulito che profuma di un calcio che non c’è più. Per tanti italiani il suo nome è legato a una sera precisa, una di quelle che ti cambiano la vita anche se non sei in campo. Madrid, 11 luglio 1982. Italia – Germania Ovest, finale del Mondiale. Il Paese incollato alla televisione, le famiglie stipate in salotto, le strade già pronte a esplodere. Quando Paolo Rossi segna, l’Italia inizia a crederci. Quando Tardelli urla, l’Italia capisce che il sogno è reale. Quando Altobelli entra al posto di Graziani e vola verso la porta, succede qualcosa che chi c’era non dimenticherà mai. Quel contropiede, la palla che viaggia sulla sinistra, l’inserimento perfetto, il destro secco sul secondo palo. 3-0. Mentre Spillo allarga le braccia e scivola verso la bandierina, milioni di italiani esplodono insieme a lui. È il gol della sicurezza, il gol che ti fa capire che sì, stavolta il Mondiale è davvero nostro. In quell’istante Altobelli non è solo il centravanti dell’Italia: è il volto di un Paese che si rialza, che urla la propria gioia dopo anni difficili. Dietro a quella corsa ci sono le sue radici di ragazzo di provincia, il Latina, il Brescia, poi l’Inter di cui diventa bandiera, lo scudetto del 1980 e una valanga di reti con quella maglia che lo renderanno un simbolo per una generazione di tifosi. C’è un attaccante che non si è mai definito il più forte, ma che non ha smesso un secondo di lottare. “Non ero il più forte ma non mollavo mai”: tutta la sua carriera sta in questa frase. Oggi che festeggia 70 anni, Alessandro Altobelli non è solo un ex calciatore. È un pezzo di memoria collettiva. È la voce di chi, rivedendo quel gol alla Germania, sente ancora i clacson nelle strade, gli abbracci sotto casa, gli occhi lucidi di papà e nonni davanti alla tv. Buon compleanno, Spillo. Per chi ama il calcio e per chi quella notte l’ha vissuta o solo sognata, resterai per sempre quel numero 11 in maglia azzurra che corre verso la storia.
The glory days. Instead Italy produce crap like zaccagni, orsolini, and grifo. Lmao its so sad actually
Italian women's team needs help as well..... By Jenna Pel November 28, 2025 The United States bested Italy in a comprehensive and one-sided 3-0 victory. It took just 90 seconds for Olivia Moultrie to open the scoring and the United States never looked back. Chelsea forward Catarina Macario scored twice, and has now found the back of the net six times in her last six starts for the USA. Fresh off her NWSL championship final MVP performance, Rose Lavelle was hugely instrumental in setting the tempo for the United States’ breakneck attack. Italy tried to work itself back into the game after conceding so early, and set out to make the USA rue its missed chances in the first half. The USA still looked vulnerable defending set pieces, though Juventus striker Michela Cambiaghi could not convert her chances. However, Emma Hayes’ side thoroughly dominated the second half, and left no question as to who would come out on top. Olivia Moultrie scored the opening goal in the USA's 3-0 win over Italy at the Inter&Co Stadium on November 28, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Robin Alam/ISI Photos) USA Player Ratings (1=low; 5=middle; 10=high.) GOALKEEPER The Seattle Reign goalkeeper Claudia Dickey did not exactly have a busy night, however, she came up big when she needed to. Her 54th minute near-post snap reaction save on Cambiaghi's shot went a long way toward the shutout. Though it was her first time backstopping center backs Naomi Girma and Emily Sonnett, she overcame her first-half jitters and consistently provided clean service out of the back. Player (Club) caps/goals (age) 7 Claudia Dickey (Seattle Reign) 5/0 (25) DEFENDERS Naomi Girma donned the captain's armband in her first international match in 149 days and put forth a brave performance. Her 38th minute last-ditch tackle on Chiara Beccari after getting beaten snuffed out one of Italy's best attacking chances from open play. Emily Sonnett turned in a consistent and reliable performance at center back. Her positioning and distribution out of the back contributed to a very controlled United States performance. Italy posed little threat up top, but Sonnett's presence also helped to assure that. Lilly Reale often stayed in line with her two center backs, which balanced the back line and prevented Italy from ever getting in behind. The left back was often involved in the USA’s buildup down the left and combined well with Moultrie, Macario and Lavelle. Emily Fox was a true right wingback and Italy simply had no answers for her marauding runs. The Arsenal defender overlapped well with Lavelle, and also made timely recovery runs to suppress any counter attacks on the other end. Player (Club) caps/goals (age) 8 Emily Fox (Arsenal/ENG) 70/1 (27) 7 Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC) 113/2 (32) 7 Naomi Girma (Chelsea/ENG) 49/9 (25) 7 Lilly Reale (Gotham FC) 5/0 (22) MIDFIELDERS Claire Hutton had a typically industrious and stout performance in midfield. She was unafraid of doing the defensive dirty work while also connecting lines between her defense and forward line. Friday's performance showed why Rose Lavelle was the player Emma Hayes most looked forward to working with. She dictated the run of play from a free role throughout her 70-minute performance. She assisted Moultrie's opening goal (1-0) and remained constantly influential as she wriggled away from defenders and seamlessly linked up with her forwards. Sam Coffey grew into life in the second half and overcame an opening 45 minutes which saw her be slightly out of sync with her passes. Her lovely assist on Macario's first goal (2-0) in tandem with her sturdy work in the defensive midfielder role showcased Coffey at her maximum potential. Player (Club) caps/goals (age) 7.5 Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns) 42/5 (26) 8 Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC) 116/27 (30) 7 Claire Hutton (KC Current) 10/1 (19) FORWARDS Olivia Moultrie set the tone for her team with an early goal from a quickfire attack shortly after the opening whistle. It was Moultrie's tenacious counter pressure that made the United States’ attack so relentless throughout. She was inches away from scoring a second in the 47th minute had Lavelle's run not been adjudged to be offside. The fleet-footed Chelsea winger Alyssa Thompson was a constant threat down the left wing. She fluidly combined with her forward line, and kept her defender Valentina Bergamaschi occupied all night. All that was missing tonight was a goal or assist. The U.S. attack went full throttle in the second half and Catarina Macario was at the tip of the spear. Her second-half pair of goals inside 12 minutes iced the game for the USA (3-0). Macario looked lively throughout the first half, and more than made up for any errant final movements with her well-executed pair of goals. Player (Club) caps/goals (age) 8 Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns) 11/5 (20) 8 Catarina Macario (Chelsea/ENG) 28/15 (26) 7 Alyssa Thompson (Chelsea/ENG) 25/3 (21) SUBSTITUTES Lily Yohannes and Jaedyn Shaw entered the match at the 70th minute mark. Yohannes immediately put her stamp on the game with her inch-perfect ball to Macario (who was perhaps fortunate not to be called offside). Shaw looked sharp and confident going forward, as illustrated by her textured ball to Reale that switched the point of attack in the closing 10 minutes. Jameese Joseph and Kate Wiesner each earned their first senior caps on Friday night. They showed off their effective one v. one skills — Joseph's in attack down the right flank and Wiesner's in defense against club teammate Sofia Cantore. Emma Hayes continues her tradition of giving the home crowd what it wants. Orlando Pride defender Emily Sams made a cameo appearance in her home stadium to the crowd's delight, and held up strong as Girma's replacement. Player (Club) caps/goals (age) 7.5 Lily Yohannes (OL Lyonnes/FRA) 12/1 (18) 7 Jaedyn Shaw (Gotham FC) 30/8 (20) 7 Emily Sams (Orlando Pride) 7/0 (26) 7 Jameese Joseph (Chicago Stars) 1/0 (23) 7 Kate Wiesner (Washington Spirit) 1/0 (24) TRIVIA: 2025 marks the USWNT's 41st year of official competition. Italy was the United States’ first ever opponent, and won 1-0 on Aug. 18, 1985 in Jesolo, Italy. NOTABLE: Olivia Moultrie's 2nd-minute goal marked the fourth consecutive time the United States scored in the opening 10 minutes. It was also the fifth time this year the USA has scored in the first 90 seconds. UP NEXT: The USA and Italy meet again on Monday, Dec. 1 — at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Nov. 28 in Orlando, Florida USA 3 Italy 0. Goals: Moultrie 2, Macario 64, 76. USA — Dickey; Fox, Sonnett, Girma (Sams, 78), Reale (Wiesner, 84); Coffey, Lavelle (Yohannes, 70), Hutton; Moultrie (Shaw, 70), Macario (Joseph, 78), A.Thompson. Italy — Giuliani; Bergamaschi, Lenzini (Salvai, 60), Linari, Boattin (Oliviero, 60); Caruso (Dragoni, 76), Giugliano (Schatzer, 76), Greggi, Cantore; Beccari (Piga, 60), Cambiaghi (Girelli, 84). Yellow cards: USA — none; Italy — Bergamaschi 89. Red cards: none. Referee: Sandra Benitez (El Salvador). ARs: Elizabeth Aguilar (El Salvador), Hilda Hernandez (El Salvador). 4th Official: Charlize Hood (Trinidad & Tobago). Att.: 14,199 Stats: USA/Italy Shots: 18 / 7 Shots on target: 11 / 2 Saves: 2 / 8 Corner Kicks: 7 / 2 Fouls: 8 / 6 Offside: 2 / 1 Possession: 69% / 31%
"... Non si è mai vista un’Italia dominare il gioco per 90 minuti. Prima tutti ci temevano proprio per questo, perché nessuno sapeva farlo meglio di noi. Le migliori vittorie azzurre vengono da sofferenze inaudite. È nel nostro Dna attendere e soffrire. È la nostra storia che lo dice, e quella non si può cambiare. Provate a far giocare la Spagna oppure il Brasile dietro la linea della palla. Provate a far fare loro un gioco di attesa. Non ci riusciranno mai. Il guardiolismo ha rovinato tanti difensori in Italia. Oggi tutti vogliono impostare, nessuno sa più marcare. Ed è un peccato, perché certe caratteristiche hanno permesso al nostro calcio di eccellere ovunque." G.Chiellini
Yes, O Fenômeno was better. He was a force of nature, unstoppable. He tops Marco in every aspect of a striker, including dribbling. Let me put it this way...the first time I saw Marco play, I was like ...okay, looks good. The first time I watched O Fenômeno, in a European match of PSV, iirc against Bayer Leverkusen, I was like ...Baffled, wondering what have I been watching these 90 minutes.
During the 1994 World Cup warmup, Brazil was stationed at Santa Clara University. I would attend each training session. At the time, there were no cell or iPhone’s so I would bring a pad and pen to jot down tactics and formations. They finally caught me and confiscated my notes. Even though R9 O Fenômeno didn't play in the tournament, he did participate in all the training sessions and looked on fire. He was only 17 at the time but you could tell he was going to be a special player.
It's because he was not needed at BVB, not needed at Chelsea now he is considered the Italian leagues best player? So either: - He found the perfect club for him and his injury issues are behind him, more experienced. OR - The league has falled off. He's a good player, i like him as a player, very respectful, seems like a good teammate, no doubt but makes you wonder.
From College Kids to Pros on the World Stage at Italia 90! John Harkes going shoulder-to-shoulder with Paolo Maldini at the 1990 World Cup is a snapshot of just how far U.S. soccer has come. That American squad was made up largely of semi-pros and college players thrown onto the world stage against some of the game’s greatest talents. Harkes was one of the few who turned the experience into a move abroad, signing professionally after the tournament and helping pave the way for future Americans in Europe. Looking back now, with a U.S. talent pool filled with full-time pros playing in top leagues, this moment is a powerful reminder of where the journey started -- and how far the program has climbed.
L'undici iniziale dell'Italia Sperimentale che affrontò l'Unione Sovietica a Bologna in un'amichevole del 1979 In piedi da sx: Menichini - Di Bartolomei - Bordon - De vecchi - Bini - Vullo Accosciati da sx: Novellino - Buriani - Antonelli - Pruzzo - Manfredonia
Wynalda was. But I don't hate on a guy if his GF/wife is a whore. EDIT: maybe I need to be clarified on the word but I would only use it if the man/woman knows about the affair and doesn't care. but to use it on an unsuspecting victim, nah.